minigal
Well-Known Member
Ultrasound showed my horse has a severe proximal suspensory strain. It's a recent injury and the fibres are intact but the cross section showed acute swelling and lack of definition on the borders. Vastly different to his opposite leg (it's a hind leg) and sadly much worse than the vet anticipated. Affected leg is already compromised (details below.)
I was offered 2 routes of treatment, shockwave x 3 + Adequan or surgery which would be a neurectomy and fasciotomy. My gut reaction is not to put him through surgery but I owe it to him to at least find out a bit about it before saying no way. I'd like to know anything anyone would like to share about their experiences and also any thoughts on what you might do if faced with this situation yourself.
For anyone who doesn't know Paddy, he is 12 this year. He has been treated for spavins with alcohol injections last year which had an excellent result (the joint has fused.) Before this injury he was just coming back into cantering on hacks and was sound enough for what I wanted to do (light hacking.) Because of his hocks I am reluctant to boxrest him for any prolonged period, he does not like boxrest and I am on a small yard with no-one else so theres not much going on to "entertain" him if he was to be stablebound. Short periods is fine. Goal is paddock sound - he's now officially retired, barring a miracle.
When he was originally nerve blocked to try and isolate the problem away from his hocks he didn't have a good response to the block, although the reaction could have been a red herring, he was very distressed at having his leg palpated. Therefore it is impossible for the vet to know if this surgical option would be successful and he said it was likely to take upto a year to see the result.
So once again I am agonising over what to do. My vet is excellent and I trust him but as usual my thoughts are muddled and you guys have been so helpful in helping me sort through things before. He is fully insured. There is no pressure on him to be ridden again just comfortable in the field. I'll try anything to help him.
He's now had 3 x treatment of shockwave and the Adequan injections..waiting to see if they work!
I was offered 2 routes of treatment, shockwave x 3 + Adequan or surgery which would be a neurectomy and fasciotomy. My gut reaction is not to put him through surgery but I owe it to him to at least find out a bit about it before saying no way. I'd like to know anything anyone would like to share about their experiences and also any thoughts on what you might do if faced with this situation yourself.
For anyone who doesn't know Paddy, he is 12 this year. He has been treated for spavins with alcohol injections last year which had an excellent result (the joint has fused.) Before this injury he was just coming back into cantering on hacks and was sound enough for what I wanted to do (light hacking.) Because of his hocks I am reluctant to boxrest him for any prolonged period, he does not like boxrest and I am on a small yard with no-one else so theres not much going on to "entertain" him if he was to be stablebound. Short periods is fine. Goal is paddock sound - he's now officially retired, barring a miracle.
When he was originally nerve blocked to try and isolate the problem away from his hocks he didn't have a good response to the block, although the reaction could have been a red herring, he was very distressed at having his leg palpated. Therefore it is impossible for the vet to know if this surgical option would be successful and he said it was likely to take upto a year to see the result.
So once again I am agonising over what to do. My vet is excellent and I trust him but as usual my thoughts are muddled and you guys have been so helpful in helping me sort through things before. He is fully insured. There is no pressure on him to be ridden again just comfortable in the field. I'll try anything to help him.
He's now had 3 x treatment of shockwave and the Adequan injections..waiting to see if they work!